Creating interpolator behaviors

Animation

Many simple behaviors can be expressed as interpolators

Vary a parameter from a starting to an ending value during a time interval

Transforms, colors, switches

Java 3D provides interpolator behaviors

Enables optimized implementations

Since they are closed functions of time, they can be used for dead-reckoning
over a network

Certain visual objects change independent of user actions.
For example, a clock in the virtual world should keep on ticking without user
interaction. The clock is an example of animation. Animation could be defined
as changes in the virtual universe that occur without direct user action

By contrast, changes in the virtual universe as a direct
result of user actions are defined as interactions.

Animations

As with interaction, animations in Java 3D are implemented
using Behavior objects

As you might imagine, any custom animation can be created
using behavior objects. However, the Java 3D API provides a number of classes
useful in creating animations without having to create a new class. It should
come as no surprise that these classes are based on the Behavior class. One
set of animation classes are known as interpolators. An Interpolator object,
together with an Alpha object, manipulates some parameter of a scene graph object
to create a time-based animation. The Alpha object provides the timing.